Energy restriction (ER) or dietary restriction extends the lifespan of diverse organisms. The present study was to investigate the link of ER with the antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) as well as with Methuselah (MTH) and Rpn11 genes. MTH gene has been shown to be one of the longevity determined genes, while Rpn11 has been recognized as a suppressor of progressive neurodegeneration. Demographic result demonstrated that the ER diet could increase the mean lifespan by 16% compared with the control. ER group showed a higher enzymatic activity of SOD1 and SOD2. At the early life stage of the flies, ER could obviously up-regulate gene expression of SOD1, SOD2 and Rpn11; whereas at late life stage, ER up-regulated gene expression of CAT and down-regulated that of MTH. Paraquat resistance test indicated that ER prolonged lifespan of wild type flies but not that of the SOD mutant. Results demonstrated that the lifespan-extending activity of ER was associated with a better locomotor function. It was therefore concluded that the prolongevity of ER was at least partially mediated by gene regulation of SOD1, SOD2, CAT, MTH and Rpn11 in the fruit fly.

Lifespan extension, oxidative stress and energy restriction in fruit flies

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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